In the heart of central Saskatchewan, just 60 kilometers east of Prince Albert, lies what could become one of the world’s most significant sources of gem-quality diamonds: the Star-Orion South Diamond Project. After years of delays and stalled development, the project is now gaining renewed momentum. The project, developed by Star Diamond Corporation, holds the potential to produce more than 70 million carats over a 38-year production lifecycle.
That scale places Star-Orion South among the largest undeveloped diamond deposits in the world. But volume alone isn’t what’s drawing fresh interest: it’s the quality of the test samples and ownership changes that are fueling the revival.
Star Diamond secured full ownership of the project, removing longstanding joint‐venture obstacles and clarifying the path forward. This helped pave the way for an updated mineral-resource estimate released in 2024 that showed substantial increases in both size and grade: for the “Star” kimberlite, 34.8 million carats at 19.4 carats per hundred tons of ore; and for “Orion South,” 36.9 million carats at 17.9 carats per hundred tons.
Another key draw is the project’s high‐value diamond potential. A study confirmed that both kimberlites contain unusually high proportions of Type IIa diamonds — the rare, chemically pure variety that fetches premium prices in the jewelry market. In the “Star” pipe, 26.5 % of diamonds were Type IIa, and in Orion South, 12.5 %.
The recovered parcels have included very large stones (including one of 50 carats)— evidence that production could yield gems suitable for high-end jewelry collections.
Infrastructure and permitting also support forward motion. The site is accessible via paved highways and forestry roads and connects to an electrical grid — a relatively favorable setting compared with more remote mines.
With the updated resource estimate in place, Star Diamond is advancing a pre-feasibility study (PFS) slated for completion by 2026.
For the jewelry industry, this means that in the coming years there may be a new steady stream of very high-quality Canadian diamonds, potentially including large Type IIa stones that stand out in luxury jewelry. The potential resources come at a time when Rio Tinto's Diavik mine in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories is expected to wrap up its operations by early 2026, after a productive 23-year run.
Credits: Rough diamond image by BigStockPhoto.com. Map by GoogleMaps.